Ovie...

He sucked, Wash was a bottom feeder. He went into beast mode and they rocketed up the standings.

Ovie should win it.
- Jaciems

i'm not knocking what OV did, he'd be my 2nd place vote.....but wash has a lot of talent other than just him......backstrom, ribiero, green, carlson, alzner

the islanders have JT, and.........a couple of guys who feed off JT

i'm not knocking what OV did, he'd be my 2nd place vote.....but wash has a lot of talent other than just him......backstrom, ribiero, green, carlson, alzner

the islanders have JT, and.........a couple of guys who feed off JT
- sensarmy_11

So are you not allowed to have good teammates to win the Hart? I'm not taking away from JT or disputing that he has zilch to work with (well, no superstars anyway). But this year, Washington went as Ovie went. Didn't matter who else was/wasn't producing, he was the guy that his team's success mirrored.

Toews yes, Ladd no. Like I'm sure many have pointed out, Jets didn't make the playoffs, that's where the MVP talk BEGINS.

So are you not allowed to have good teammates to win the Hart? I'm not taking away from JT or disputing that he has zilch to work with (well, no superstars anyway). But this year, Washington went as Ovie went. Didn't matter who else was/wasn't producing, he was the guy that his team's success mirrored.
- jmatchett383

And when they sucked, he sucked too. And that's where I take issue with Ovie as a Hart finalist: he sucked for a good part of the season.

Pretty sure Tavares, Crosby, Toews were good/great all season long.

Toews yes, Ladd no. Like I'm sure many have pointed out, Jets didn't make the playoffs, that's where the MVP talk BEGINS.
- 13sundin13

Hey I said it in the piece had the Jets made it then I think there is an argument for Ladd.

Most valuable means they are the most valuable to a team's success. Is Crosby the best player in the league? Arguably, yes. Is he the most valuable player on the pens? Arguably, yes again. This season was he the biggest reason they made the playoffs? Clearly not, although you could make an argument for it. Will he lead the pens to the Cup Finals and possibly another cup? It's a possibility. If he doesn't do that though then I don't believe he should be in the discussion. It should be Tavares, Ovechkin, and Toews. Tavares deserves to win because he IS the reason the Islanders are in the playoffs in arguably the hardest division in the entire league. Ovechkin did exactly the same thing, but in an easier division. Toews and Kane kind of split the load for carrying the Blackhawks, plus the rest of the team was not even close to as poopty as the Caps and Isles are. If Tavares doesn't win it is a crime. Saying that, I wouldn't be surprised if they gave it to Ovechkin for PR reasons.
- bsabres716

Though the Hart is defined as "most valuable to their team", I think the best player in the game has to be in the mix, regardless of the team he's playing with. Crosby is by far the best player in the game as of right now.

And when they sucked, he sucked too. And that's where I take issue with Ovie as a Hart finalist: he sucked for a good part of the season.

Pretty sure Tavares, Crosby, Toews were good/great all season long.
- MartiniMan

That;s exactly my point. The criteria for the Hart is the "player judged most valuable to his team." No one else in the league has as big of an impact on their team's success of failure as he did. That proves to me that he is not only valuable, but actually invaluable. Basically, if they didn't have him, they're a lottery team. With him, they won their (albeit weak) division. That's why I'd say I have no issue with him, because he was the person most responsible for leading his team to a division title.

That;s exactly my point. The criteria for the Hart is the "player judged most valuable to his team." No one else in the league has as big of an impact on their team's success of failure as he did. That proves to me that he is not only valuable, but actually invaluable. Basically, if they didn't have him, they're a lottery team. With him, they won their (albeit weak) division. That's why I'd say I have no issue with him, because he was the person most responsible for leading his team to a division title.
- jmatchett383

No, I don't think it is. What I'm saying is, when his team sucked, he sucked too, and did nothing to help them rise above it.

I guess we'll agree to disagree. I just have a hard time seeing a guy who was as ineffective as he was for as long as he was still win the award.

Bottom line, if Toews played in NYC, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

As they need to have best D man and best offensive Dman award.
- willey101

You are either insane or have never seen Tavares.

Im saying there are about 5 other guys I would make the argument for being "most valuable to their team" ahead of JT. I think JT is awesome. But yes, him being nominated is NHL PR.

Just my opinion.
- Iggysbff

Who is the next best player on the isles after JT?
St Louis has Stamkos
Ladd has Kane and Wheeler
Towes has Kane Hossa etc

Take JT off the isles and they are last again

No, I don't think it is. What I'm saying is, when his team sucked, he sucked too, and did nothing to help them rise above it.

I guess we'll agree to disagree. I just have a hard time seeing a guy who was as ineffective as he was for as long as he was still win the award.

Bottom line, if Toews played in NYC, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.
- MartiniMan

That is a false statement. He rededicated his game (cue the NHL 13 GIF) and helped his team rise by leading them to a division title. He realized that the team would sink or swim with him, and he made the swim.

Edit: I still think Toews deserved it, but I have no issue if AO won either.

Peter Tessier: MVP finalists- Are they Right?
A look at some numbers behind the Hart finalists and few who didn't make the cut.
- Peter.Tessier

Can't really go wrong, but you could have definitely made strong cases for Bobrosvky and Toews, no doubt.

That is a false statement. He rededicated his game (cue the NHL 13 GIF) and helped his team rise by leading them to a division title. He realized that the team would sink or swim with him, and he made the swim.

Edit: I still think Toews deserved it, but I have no issue if AO won either.
- jmatchett383

Ovechkin's 1st 25 Games (Jan 12 - Mar 12)

9G, 11A, 20Pts, -7

And 3G 1A came in one game, Feb 23 vs. NJD.

Look I don't think Hall should have been a candidate, but he deserves it more than Tavares.

Tavares had 47P in 48GP and was a -2 on a team that was even.

Hall had 50P in 45GP and was +5 on a team that was -9.

Hall should be top 10, and Tavares certainly shouldn't be top 3

Look I don't think Hall should have been a candidate, but he deserves it more than Tavares.

Tavares had 47P in 48GP and was a -2 on a team that was even.

Hall had 50P in 45GP and was +5 on a team that was -9.

Hall should be top 10, and Tavares certainly shouldn't be top 3
- TheNugeIsHuge

Tavares carried his team to the playoffs, hall didn't. Isles miss and Tavares isn't even in the conversation

Tavares carried his team to the playoffs, hall didn't. Isles miss and Tavares isn't even in the conversation
- CFCV.

Tavares did not carry his team to the playoffs. 47P?